Loppet Trail Kids

Winter Programs


The Loppet Foundation :: Programs :: Loppet Trail Kids :: Trail Kids: Nordic Ski Programs

Our Winter Nordic Ski Programs are part of the Loppet Foundation’s Trail Kids year-round programming.

*Beginner participants must attend one of our 3 week Beginner Clinics before they register for a 5 or 10-week Winter Ski Programs, or have equivalent skill and experience. Novice to advanced skiers are split into ability and age-specific coaching groups, so that each participant is challenged appropriately. Trail Kids sessions include technique drills, relays, games on skis, distance adventure skiing, and preparation for upcoming race events. The main focuses are developing skills, having fun, and falling in love with a lifetime sport! Please read all equipment and registration information before registering.

Friend Requests: For safety and equity reasons, Trail Kids does not offer friend requests as part of registration. The mass quantity of friend requests made it impossible to accommodate them all and greatly impacted safety and group dynamics. We would love to allow everyone to practice with their friends, but if we cannot accommodate all friend requests, we cannot offer them to everyone. We encourage riders to embrace the opportunity to form new friendships through our programs!

Ski Ability Level Registration Guide

In order to place participants in the appropriate classic and skate ability groups we need your help during registration. Participants will be placed into ability groups, will be assessed by coaches the first week of session, and rearranged as needed. Please refer to the Nordic Ski Ability Level Registration Guide when registering your child.

*NEW Lottery Registration for Winter 2022-2023*

Lottery registration will be open from October 1, 2022 at 8am to October 6, 2022 at 5pm. Lottery selections will take place on October 7, 2022 at 8am.

Due to an increasing participant demand and our desire for a more equitable registration process, Trail kids will move to a Lottery system. Lottery Registration will be open from October 1, 2022 at 8am until October 6, 2022 at 5pm. Lottery selection will take place on Friday October 7, 2022 at 8am. Selected participants will be automatically notified at this time. Good news! Once lottery selections are complete, the participants not selected will be automatically added to a waitlist, and you’ll be notified right away if a spot has opened up for you.

10-week Classic AND Skate Nordic Ski Session

These sessions meet twice a week for ten weeks, focusing on both classic and skate ski technique (classic and skate equipment needed to participate in these sessions). Please read all equipment and registration information before registering.

  • Dates: December 27, 2022 – March 9, 2023 (no practice the week of 2/20 to 2/23)
  • Days/Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays 6PM – 7:30PM
  • Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
  • Registration Fee: $440
  • Type of instruction: Skate and Classic technique
  • Equipment needed: Skate skis and poles (nose height) & Classic skis (skin skis or kickwax skis) and poles (shoulder height). Combi boots can be used for both techniques.

Trail Kids offers two five-week sessions for families that want a shorter time commitment and/or to focus on one discipline. The sessions will teach either skate or classic technique, so only one type of ski equipment is needed to participate. Please read all equipment and registration information before registering.

Session 1: Monday/Wednesday 5-Week Classic Ski Session

  • Dates: December 26, 2022 – January 25, 2023 (no practice MLK Day)
  • Days/Time: Mondays/Wednesdays 6PM – 7:30PM
  • Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
  • Registration Fee: $220
  • Type of instruction: Classic technique
  • Equipment needed: Classic skis (skin skis or kickwax skis) and poles (shoulder height). Combi boots can be used.

Session 1: Tuesday/Thursday 5-Week Skate Ski Session

  • Dates: December 27, 2022 – January 26, 2023
  • Days/Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays 6PM – 7:30PM
  • Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
  • Registration Fee: $220
  • Type of instruction: Skate technique
  • Equipment needed: Skate skis and poles (nose height). Combi boots can be used.

Session 2: Monday/Wednesday 5-Week Skate Ski Session

  • Dates: January 30 – March 8, 2023 (no practice the week of 2/20 to 2/23)
  • Days/Time: Mondays/Wednesdays 6PM – 7:30PM
  • Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
  • Registration Fee: $220
  • Type of instruction: Skate technique
  • Equipment needed: Skate skis and poles (nose height). Combi boots can be used.

Session 2: Tuesday/Thursday 5-Week Classic Ski Session

  • Dates: January 31 – March 9, 2023 (no practice the week of 2/20 to 2/23)
  • Days/Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays 6PM – 7:30PM
  • Where: The Trailhead (meet at team flags east of the Trailhead)
  • Registration Fee: $220
  • Type of instruction: Classic technique
  • Equipment needed: Classic skis (skin skis or kickwax skis) and poles (shoulder height). Combi boots can be used.

Trail Kids offers two five-week sessions for families that want a shorter time commitment and/or to focus on one discipline. The sessions will teach either skate or classic technique, so only one type of ski equipment is needed to participate. Please read all equipment and registration information before registering.

Session 1: Tuesday/Thursday 5-Week Classic Ski Session

  • Dates: December 27, 2022 – January 26, 2023
  • Days/Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays 6PM – 7:30PM
  • Where: Hyland Lake Park in Bloomington
  • Registration Fee: $220
  • Type of instruction: Classic technique
  • Equipment needed: Classic skis (skin skis or kickwax skis) and poles (shoulder height). Combi boots can be used.

Session 2: Tuesday/Thursday 5-Week Skate Ski Session

  • Dates: January 31 – March 9, 2023 (no practice the week of 2/20 to 2/23)
  • Days/Time: Tuesdays/Thursdays 6PM – 7:30PM
  • Where: Hyland Lake Park in Bloomington
  • Registration Fee: $220
  • Type of instruction: Skate technique
  • Equipment needed: Skate skis and poles (nose height). Combi boots can be used.

For more information on ski equipment, clothing, and a beginner guide to both glide and kick waxing tips click here: Nordic Ski Equipment and Program Guide

Financial Assistance and Sibling Discounts

Financial Assistance: Trail Kids provides financial assistance for those in need, up to 100% of the registration cost. To apply, please fill out our Trail Kids Financial Assistance Application Form. We will follow up with you with instructions on how to register at a price that is manageable for your family. For information about Trail Kids Program scholarships email trailkids@loppet.org

Sibling Discount: For those families who have three or more kids in the program we will given a 15% discount code. Please email trailkids@loppet.org for more information.

Refund Policy

The Loppet will issue a full refund of the program fee minus the original processing fee up until 6 weeks before the program starts. Between 6 weeks and 4 weeks from the program start date, a 50% refund will be issued. Between 4 and 3 weeks from the program start date, a 25% refund will be issued. There are no refunds for any cancellations within less than 3 weeks of the start of a program. During the program, if your child has a medical issue that makes it impossible to participate, we will issue a prorated refund minus the processing fee. If the Loppet cancels a program, a full refund will be issued. For instructions on how to request a refund, click here.

The Trail Kids Super Ski Race Series is part of the Loppet Foundation’s Trail Kids year-round programming. The race series is included in the program registration fee

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